Harvey Weinstein 'under investigation'

24 May 2018

Harvey Weinstein is reportedly under federal investigation in New York.

Harvey Weinstein

The 66-year-old media mogul - who has been accused of sexual misconduct by dozens of women - is being subjected to a criminal probe by the US attorney's office, who are also said to be looking into whether the producer "enticed or persuaded any women to cross state lines with the intent of committing a sex crime", a potentially federal offence, the Wall Street Journal reported.

However, Benjamin Brafman, Weinstein's attorney, confirmed he had met with federal prosecutors in Manhattan "in an attempt to dissuade them from proceeding" and will continue to meet with them in the coming weeks.

He added: "Mr. Weinstein has always maintained that he has never engaged in non-consensual sexual acts."

In addition, a source told CNN that a New York state grand jury is hearing testimony and other evidence in a criminal sexual assault case against Weinstein.

He is also under investigation for rape by the Los Angeles Police Department, and police in the UK have widened an investigation into the producer to include allegations of sexual assault by seven women.

Over 60 women - including Cara Delevingne, Eva Green, Daryl Hannah, Salma Hayek, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kate Beckinsale - have come forward to make allegations against Weinstein since the New York Times and New Yorker's exposes in October, which documented decades of alleged sexual misconduct.

The producer has largely retreated from the public eye since the allegations were made but has denied many of the claims.

His spokesperson previously said: "Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein. Mr. Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances."